India for early resettlement of displaced Lankan Tamils

India on Monday underlined its commitments to the early resettlement of the displaced Tamils, as it handed over fresh consignment of relief materials for the civilians displaced during the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.

India provided over 6 lakh packages of relief material valued at USD 3 million for the Tamil IDPs in Northern Sri Lanka. The supplies, which arrived arrived in Colombo on August 8, consisted of grocery items, utensils, plastic mats, clothing materials including children’s clothing, footwear, jerry can and personal hygiene items.

The items were handed over to the UN Resident Representative Neil Buhne in the UN officer here.

Speaking on the occasion, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Alok Prasad underlined New Delhi’s commitments to the early resettlement of the displaced Tamils. He said the relief material focused on items for families who will be resettled in their original homes in the north.

The envoy said the 600-tonnes consignment would cover 80,000 displaced families who are in the welfare camps at present.

"The Government of India hopes that the process of resettlement will continue apace. It reiterates its readiness to work with the government of Sri Lanka in assisting the latter to fulfil its commitment for early resettlement of all displaced families to their original habitat," the Indian High Commission said in a release.

This is the fourth consignment of relief goods from India meant for the IDP population in northern Sri Lanka. India had earlier delivered 80,000 family packs in November 2008 and 40,000 family packs in April 2009.

The third consignment of relief supplies in the middle of May contained 50,000 individually packed family packets. Of humanitarian relief material intended for the IDPs in Northern Sri Lanka.

Rishad Badiuddin, the Lankan Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, said the demining work was continuing in the formerly LTTE-held areas in the North and the IDPs would be resettled after the clearing operations were complete.

He said 15,000 families are proposed to be resettled in the Jaffna district soon.